We aimed to estimate the prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy and of FAS among the general population, by country, WHO region (ie, African region [AFR], Eastern Mediterranean region [EMR], European region [EUR], region of the Americas [AMR], South-East Asia region [SEAR], and Western Pacific region [WPR]), and globally.

In line with the International Charter on Prevention of FASD, the current study provides the best understanding of the scope of the problem at this time and is intended to both inform and draw the attention of health-care practitioners, public health authorities, policy makers, and government officials.

Although there are currently no confirmed statistics on the number of people in Canada with FASD, the population of Canada in 2017 is 36,634,185.

Rates are estimated anywhere between 1 – 5%:

1% = 366,341 people with FASD.

3% = 1,099,025 people with FASD.

5% = 1,831,709 people with FASD.

Therefore, in Canada, there are between 366,341 – 1,831,709 people with FASD. It is also important to note that the prevalence of FASD is currently unknown. The most commonly cited rough estimate of the prevalence of FASD is 9 per 1,000 (Roberts & Nanson, 2000).

The Canada FASD Research Network (CanFASD) uses a 4% prevalence.

2018 Update:

A report released by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health earlier this year revealed a prevalence rate of up to 3%.

The results were based on a survey of 2,555 seven- to nine-year-olds in the Greater Toronto Area, one of the largest sample sizes used in a Canadian study and according to the team’s lead researcher, Dr. Svetlana Popova, the first survey reflective of Canada’s diverse population.

We are more confident now, she says, that FASD can happen to anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status.

Previous Canadian studies on FASD have focused on narrow groups such as kids in care. They have also relied on medical records to estimate the prevalence of the disorder.

But as Popova explains, many children with FASD are misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. So her team — which included leading geneticists, psychologists and pediatricians — independently assessed each student.

Dr. Popova explained during media interviews after the release of the report that even 3% was low because reporting of drinking by participants was likely downplayed and less than half responded to requests for participation.

According to a 2016 Health Review on FASD by the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking: Information on the prevalence of FASD, both globally and in individual countries, is scarce, and where it exists, is highly varied and of questionable reliability.

While it has been suggested that, globally, 5% of all pregnancies may result in children with FASD, individual studies cover few countries, where they often focus on small populations.

The IARD Review reported the following statistics for FASD prevalence: